COVID-19 mink-associated strain – Q&As for mink farmers

What is a mink-associated strain of COVID-19?

A mink-associated strain of COVID-19 is a variant of the COVID-19 virus that has changed as a result of the transmission of the virus from humans to minks and back.

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I work on a mink farm where minks have been affected by COVID-19. How can I protect myself?

If you work on a farm where minks are affected by COVID-19, follow the advice of your health authorities. WHO recommends these steps to protect yourself from the virus:

  • use an FFP3 face mask and goggles when working on the farm
  • change clothes before entering and when leaving the farm
  • wash your clothes properly
  • restrict access of other animals, such as pets, rodents or birds, to the farm
  • clean your hands frequently and thoroughly
  • keep a safe distance from other workers
  • clean surfaces on the farm frequently
  • if you experience COVID-19-related symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

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I work on a mink farm, but there have been no cases of COVID-19 among the minks. Should I take any precautions?

Everyone is at risk of contracting COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus. Wherever you are, take precautions every day to reduce your risk of infection. If you work on a mink farm, protect yourself and prevent the spread of COVID-19 with these steps:

  • clean your hands frequently and thoroughly
  • use a face mask
  • keep a safe distance from other workers
  • clean surfaces on the farm frequently
  • if you experience COVID-19-related symptoms, contact your doctor immediately
  • cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.

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I work on an animal farm. Can animals transmit the COVID-19 virus to me?

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through human-to-human transmission, but instances of transmission between humans and some animals have been reported. Animals such as minks, dogs, domestic cats, lions, tigers and raccoon dogs in contact with infected humans have tested positive for COVID-19. However, animal-to-human transmission has only been documented in the case of minks so far. Wherever you are, take precautions to reduce your risk of infection:

  • keep a safe distance from others
  • clean your hands frequently and thoroughly
  • avoid crowded places
  • wear a mask when appropriate, including when working with animals
  • clean surfaces properly.

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Should all minks with COVID-19 be culled?

We understand how difficult it is to determine the extent and necessity of culling minks as it heavily impacts a sector of the economy. However, it is important to prevent further spread of the virus among minks and to people as this can result in further mutations of the COVID-19 virus.

On 5 November 2020 the Danish Government decided to cull all minks in the country. Decisions on the extent of mink culling should consider issues such as human health risks, socioeconomic implications, farming practices, mink population size, location and biosecurity practices.

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How can I protect myself when culling COVID-19-affected minks?

To protect yourself when culling COVID-19-affected minks, follow these recommendations:

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Did the mink-associated changes in the COVID-19 virus make the virus more dangerous to people?

All viruses, including the COVID-19 virus, change over time. Hundreds of variations of the virus have so far been identified worldwide.

WHO is working closely with Danish authorities and other partners to fully understand any potential implications of the specific changes observed in the mink-associated COVID-19 variants found in people. The results so far do not indicate increased virus transmissibility and disease severity.

Everyone is at risk of contracting COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus. Wherever you are, take precautions every day to reduce your risk of infection.

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Should we be concerned about the changes in the COVID-19 virus associated with minks?

Whenever a virus spills over from animals to humans, it is a cause for concern. As viruses move between people and animals, genetic changes in the virus can occur, which may have implications for the disease in humans. We want to stop any spillover and the changes that can result. WHO is working with Danish authorities to better understand the potential impact of mink-associated mutations on the disease.

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Will the changes in the virus impact the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine?

It is too early to make any assumptions about how the mink-associated changes in the COVID-19 virus may respond to diagnostics, therapeutics or vaccines in development. Hundreds of variations have so far been identified worldwide. WHO works with networks of researchers, including evolutionary virologists, sequencing teams, and synthetic biologists, to look at these changes and identify anything of concern.

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Are COVID-19-affected minks found in other countries?

To date, six countries in the European Region, namely Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden, as well as the United States of America have reported COVID-19 in farmed minks to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

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What is the risk of the mink-associated COVID-19 virus strains spreading globally?

The risk of mink-associated COVID-19 virus strains spreading globally is considered to be low at this time. To reduce the spread, WHO advises all countries that have reported COVID-19 in minks to implement strict public health measures, including enhanced surveillance, testing and sequencing, culling of the animals and localized travel restrictions as necessary.

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What is WHO’s recommendation to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 between humans and minks?

Minks provide a potential animal reservoir for the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, WHO advises countries to enhance surveillance for COVID-19 at the animal-human interface where susceptible animal reservoirs are identified, including mink farms.

WHO advises all countries to increase the sequencing of COVID-19 virus strains found in humans and animals, and to share the sequence data with the global community.

WHO also reminds countries to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity measures in mink farms and around known animal reservoirs to limit the risk of spillover events. This includes infection prevention and control measures for animal workers, farm visitors and those who may be involved in animal husbandry or culling.

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